long, at least, as I stay myself. '_Aprés celà le déluge_.'"

"I don't speak French."

"Ah? No? I regret it. You might have assisted me in my genders. I am
never altogether sure of them."

"Mr. De Forest," called Bell, imperatively, from the other side of the
room, displeased at the defalcation of her knight, "I want to introduce
you to Miss Mudge."

Miss Mudge tried to make Bell understand by frantic pantomime that she
hadn't meant just now,--any time would do,--but Bell chose it should be
just now; and slightly lifting his eyebrows, Mr. De Forest took his
handsome person slowly back to Bell to make an almost impertinently
indifferent bow to the new claimant upon him.

Mr. Halloway had been standing near Phebe, too near not to overhear the
conversation, and he turned to her now quickly.

"So this accounts for your beaming face," he said in a low tone, as he
took a seat just back of her in the window niche. "The mysterious Gerald
_is_ really coming, then. I wondered what had happened as soon as I saw
you. Why did you not tell me?"

"I was only waiting till I had the chance," she answered, all the
brightness coming back into her bonny face as she smiled up at him.

"Do you think I could keep any thing so nice from you for long? It seems
to make every thing nicer when you know it too. She is coming